WATERBURY – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, in coordination with the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, will conduct an annual rabies vaccine bait drop beginning Aug. 1 to help combat rising rabies rates in wildlife.

The August rabies bait distribution will deliver approximately 762,000 rabies vaccine bait in areas of Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington Counties. The vaccine – in the form of a sweet-smelling oral bait that is attractive for raccoons and skunks to eat – will be dropped from low-flying airplanes in rural areas, by helicopter in suburban areas, and placed on foot and by hand from slow-moving vehicles in residential areas.

Officials say that the bai

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